Mustangs notch first win

Chris Yemma

With precision-like accuracy, Costa Mesa High starting pitcher Alex

Pisarski threw five strong innings in a combined 5-0 win over

visiting Buena Park Friday to help the Mustangs embark on the 2005

season with a winning record.

Pisarski allowed five hits and struck out 10 to help the hosts win

the pool-play opener of the Newport Elks tournament.

The senior pitcher, making his first varsity start on the mound,

also pitched more than two innings for the first time since severing

tendons in his pitching hand in an auto accident in December of 2003.

“I didn’t think I’d throw a [combined] shutout,” Pisarski said. “I

was hoping to get the win, but I think I threw pretty well. I still

have some stuff to work on, but it was good to get a W.”

It was also a first win for first-year Mesa coach Dave Austin.

Former coach Doug Deats resigned in July and Austin, then the

pitching coach, took over the program.

Though picked by coaches to finish fifth in the Golden West

League, Austin believes his team can make a run at the program’s

first CIF Southern Section playoff berth in three seasons.

“I think we can do better, I definitely do,” Austin said. “But our

pitching just has to come along.

And until I see Zack Morton and Andrew Sanford have some success

-- after I see what those guys can do, we can raise the expectations.

“We’re shooting for CIF. That’s always our goal and I think we can

do it. But we do need some growth in the pitching.”

The former pitching coach was pleased with his two pitchers

against the Coyotes (0-1). Pisarski exited after five innings and

Sanford entered, striking out four and allowing three hits to finish

off the shutout.

But Austin said he was still waiting to see what Morton and Alex

Dominguez can accomplish before raising the expectations for this

season. Either Morton or Dominguez are scheduled to start today

against visiting Schurr at 2 p.m.

Mesa widened a 1-0 first-inning lead with a four-run fourth

inning. Ryan Szwast produced two runs in the fourth with a home run

over the left-field fence, bringing in Jeff Waldron.

RBI singles by Pisarski and Dominguez produced the other two runs

for the Mustangs.

Szwast finished 2 for 3, as did Pisarski, while Dominguez and

Waldron were both 1 for 3. Waldron drove the first run home on an RBI

single in the first inning.

Buena Park starting pitcher Steven Nunez pitched 3 2/3 innings,

giving up five runs. . Robert Bruce entered in the fourth, pitching 2

1/3 no-hit innings.

Newport Elks tournament

Pool play

Costa Mesa 5,

Buena Park 0

Score by Innings

*--*

BP 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 8 1

Mesa 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 - 5 7 2

*--*

Nunez, Bruce (4) and Bennett; Pisarski, Sanford (6). W --

Pisarski, 1-0. L -- Nunez, 0-1. 2B -- Mendoza (BP). HR -- Szwast

(CM).